Southern California -- this just in

Fire burning in Angeles National Forest is 69% contained

Firefighters continued to make headway Thursday in their efforts to contain a wildfire that has charred 4,180 acres in the Angeles National Forest above Glendora.

The blaze, called the Williams fire, was 69% contained Thursday evening as firefighters were aided by cooler weather and relative humidity as high as 39%, the U.S. Forest Service said.

The fire broke out Sunday afternoon and quickly spread, prompting authorities to evacuate residents and recreational users from campgrounds, picnic areas and a mobile home park. The entire San Gabriel Canyon was shut down to thousands of people who typically flood the area on Labor Day weekend.

The canyon remained closed to recreational users Thursday, but residents were allowed to return after an evacuation order was modified, fire officials said.

The blaze began a few miles from California 39 in the east fork of the San Gabriel Canyon. The cause was under investigation.

Four people -- including at least two firefighters -- were injured Monday, but none required hospitalization, the Forest Service said. A stranded hiker was rescued Sunday by a helicopter that landed near the Bridge to Nowhere, a popular hiking destination in the east fork of San Gabriel Canyon. The man had hiked into the area Saturday and spent the night, fire officials said.

Photo: Matt Hidalgo kicks up ash as he struggles to bring a fire
hose up a steep slope along Shoemaker Canyon Road in the Angeles
National Forest on Wednesday. Credit: Don
Bartletti / Los Angeles Times